Distraught family members searched in deep snow Wednesday and issued a public plea for help finding a 27-year-old Oakdale woman missing since Sunday.

Danielle Jelinek, who is from Cottage Grove but had recently been living with her sister, was last seen at the home of a 28-year-old man in Chisago Lake Township, said Rick Duncan, Chisago County sheriff. Deputies had been called to check on her welfare, and were unable to find her.

Jelinek's car and belongings -- including shoes, purse, cellphone and car keys -- were still at the home, leading to searches of the area, Duncan said. Dogs and a State Patrol helicopter also were used.

The man is being held in jail pending possible charges of drug possession and violation of probation in Anoka County.

As dozens of searchers combed an area west of Moody Lake Wednesday, tearful relatives said Jelinek, who phoned her mother daily, would never go somewhere without leaving word of her whereabouts.

"She's the most charismatic, outgoing, loving person that you will ever meet," her sister, Cory Jelinek, said. "She's my best friend and my sister and a fantastic aunt to her nephew. ... She would never do something like this."

Dennis McGrath, Star Tribune
Authorities are searching for Danielle Jelinek, 27, of Oakdale, who went missing on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Illegal drugs were found when deputies executed a search warrant at the home, Duncan said, and the man, with whom Jelinek had an on-again, off-again relationship for the past couple of years, was arrested.

The search spread from the man's home near Lofton Avenue (County Hwy. 24) and 261st Street. Duncan said the man was not being cooperative.

"Something happened that night, and we don't know what it is," he said.

"Everything's been normal. She's not the type of person to be missing," said Sara Rubbelke. Rubbelke didn't know why her cousin, a manager at the Wells Fargo branch in Maplewood, was at the man's home.

"He wanted to be with her, but she didn't really want to be with him," she said.

Anyone with information about Jelinek is asked to call the Chisago County Sheriff's Office at 651-257-4100.

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